Florida DMV Permit Test Safe Driving and Sharing the Road Summary

Use your headlights from sunset to sunrise, including twilight, and whenever rain, smoke, or fog makes it hard to see.

Wrong choices

• Only after full darkness: Twilight counts too. Headlights must be on from sunset.
• Only when it is raining: Rain is one time you need them, but they are also required every night from sunset to sunrise.
• Only on roads without streetlights: Headlights are required at night on lit roads too.

Florida requires headlights during rain, smoke, or fog, even in daytime. They help other drivers see you.

Wrong choices

• Leave them off because it is daytime: Florida requires headlights during rain, smoke, or fog, even in the day.
• Turn on only your parking lights: Parking lights are not enough. Use your headlights.
• Use your hazard flashers instead: Hazard lights do not replace headlights while you are driving in rain.

Dim your high beams when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet, so you do not blind the other driver.

Wrong choices

• Only if the other driver flashes their lights: You must dim on your own, without waiting for a signal.
• When it is within 100 feet: 100 feet is too late; the other driver would already be blinded.
• When it is within 300 feet: 300 feet is the rule for a vehicle you are following, not one coming toward you.

When a school bus displays its stop signal, drivers going both directions on an undivided road must stop and stay stopped until the signal is withdrawn.

Wrong choices

• Stop, then go when no children are in sight: Even if you see no children, you must wait until the stop signal is pulled back.
• Slow down and pass carefully: You may not pass a school bus while its stop signal is out.
• Stop only if you are behind the bus, not coming toward it: On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions must stop.

Never drive through, around, or under a railroad gate that is down or moving. Stop and wait until the gates go up and the tracks are clear.

Wrong choices

• Drive slowly around the gates: Driving around lowered gates is illegal and can be deadly.
• Honk and drive across quickly: Honking does not make crossing safe or legal.
• Wait one minute, then go if no train comes: You must wait until the gates are fully up, however long it takes.

Florida's Move Over law says that when you approach a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, you must move out of the lane closest to it when it is safe to do so.

Wrong choices

• Stay in your lane at the same speed: Florida's Move Over law requires you to change lanes or slow down.
• Stop in your lane until the officer leaves: Stopping in a travel lane is dangerous and not what the law asks.
• Speed up to get past quickly: Speeding up puts the officer and others at risk.

On a highway divided by a raised median, physical barrier, or unpaved median at least 5 feet wide, drivers going the opposite way do not have to stop for a school bus. Still watch for children.

Wrong choices

• Stop, then go after 10 seconds: There is no 10-second rule.
• Stop only if children are standing on your side: The law depends on the median, not on whether you see children.
• Stop until the stop signal is withdrawn: You would have to stop if the road had no raised median or barrier. Here the median frees you from stopping.

Only a raised median, physical barrier, or unpaved median at least 5 feet wide frees opposite traffic from stopping. A painted center turn lane does not, so traffic in both directions must stop.

Wrong choices

• Keep going, because the road is divided: A painted lane is not a raised median or barrier, so you must stop.
• Slow to 20 mph and pass: There is no slow-and-pass option. You must stop.
• Stop only if you are in the lane closest to the bus: All lanes in both directions must stop here.

If you cannot move over, you must slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. On a 55 mph road that means 35 mph or less.

Wrong choices

• Slow to 45 mph: Slowing by 10 mph is not enough. The law requires 20 mph below the limit.
• Stop in your lane: Stopping in a travel lane is dangerous and not required.
• Keep your speed at 55 mph but stay alert: You must slow down if you cannot move over.

Dim your high beams when you are within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following. Bright lights in the mirrors can blind the driver ahead.

Wrong choices

• When you are within 100 feet of the car ahead: 100 feet is too close; your lights would already glare in the mirror.
• When you are within 500 feet of the car ahead: 500 feet is the rule for an oncoming car, not one you are following.
• Never, since the car ahead is facing away: Your high beams still glare in the other driver's mirrors.